Betting Analysis
Looking at the 1×2 betting market first where the draw (‘x’) was the winning bet @ 3.25. The marginal favourite had been Girona based on home advantage, but they rarely looked like winning this match. Rayo gave their punters a strong run for their money @ 3.15, twice leading and in the end only a controversial and soft penalty saw them deprived of that.
Moving onto the Asian handicap market for this contest where our selection gave followers a half win. Rayo +0.25 @ 1.83 was tipped up as the smart bet and they gave their backers a smoother ride over the wild contest. Girona -0.25 bettors lost half of their stake and in the end, would have been relieved to get the draw and partial refund.
Looking at The Under/Over market last of all where the line was slightly undervaluing Overs with hindsight. The game produced four goals to see the Over 2.25 bettors win @ 1.94. It was the entertaining and open manner of the match was important to note, it was very much an ‘overs’ type contest.
Match summary
Rayo Vallecano failed to hold onto their lead and settle on a point in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Girona at the Estadio Montilivi.
The visitors needed only 71 seconds to break the deadlock in Catalonia. With aspirations of a top seven finish, one of their strongest performers Camello finishing sublimely a one-on-one with former Spurs keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Girona struggled to pose a serious attacking threat, but they were handed a penalty not long before the break after Fran García had brought down Iván Martín in the area. Valentín Castellanos clinically fired the ball down the middle for 1-1.
Girona showed promise and more threat in the entertaining second half, but Rayo were back in front shortly after the hour-mark. This after Isi brilliantly found the top corner with a goal that merited winning most football matches.
Girona were awarded a second penalty in the 74th minute after Florian Lejeune was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball. Samuel Sáiz converted to get the host undeservedly level, setting up a dramatic final quarter-hour.
Despite an end-to-end finale to the game which included a disallowed Girona winner, it ended 2-2. The home side briefly believed they had won it from a free kick deep into added time. The kick which was thrown into the box and found its way in, but VAR soon confirmed it was offside. Girona showed good effort but are fortunate to avoid the loss here, a fairer result would have been 2-3 or 1-2.
